There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Geneva each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national holiday) March or April: Easter Monday (national holidays)Easter Monday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after the Passion. Many baptisms are celebrated on Easter Weekend and families come together to attend the vigil mass and share a feast on Sunday.
Third Monday in April: Spring celebration (national)To celebrate Spring, the city's various corporations parade in period costumes in the streets of Geneva. At 6:00 p.m., a giant bonfire on which sits a ragged snowman (the Böögg) is being started and church bells across the city start ringing!
May 1: Labour Day (national holiday) August 1: National Day (national holiday)Commemorates the founding of the Swiss Confederation on this day in 1291. Highlights include a bonfire, a parade, a spectacular fireworks display over Lake Geneva when night falls.
November 13: Swiss Story Night (national)Held each year since 1995, this event honours Swiss storytelling and folklore traditions. Evening storytelling sessions open to the public are held in libraries, schools and offbeat venues.
December 1–24: Geneva International Christmas Market (local event)As the holiday season is just around the corner, this major event for local craftsmanship takes place on the main squares of Geneva. Various cabins offer gastronomic products and other Christmas decorations.
December 25: Christmas (national holiday)| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1/30 | 4/39 | 76/3.0 | Not the best period to go |
| February | -1/30 | 6/43 | 68/2.7 | Not the best period to go |
| March | -2/28 | 11/52 | 70/2.8 | Not the best period to go |
| April | 5/41 | 15/59 | 72/2.8 | Good period to go
|
| May | 9/48 | 20/68 | 84/3.3 | Good period to go
|
| June | 12/54 | 23/73 | 92/3.6 | Good period to go
|
| July | 14/57 | 26/79 | 79/3.1 | Good period to go
|
| August | 14/57 | 26/79 | 82/3.2 | Good period to go
|
| September | 11/52 | 20/68 | 100/3.9 | Not the best period to go |
| October | 7/45 | 15/59 | 105/4.1 | Not the best period to go |
| November | 2/36 | 8/46 | 88/3.5 | Not the best period to go |
| December | 0/32 | 5/41 | 90/3.5 | Not the best period to go |
The Geneva International Airport is located about 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) west of the city centre, near the border between France and Switzerland.
It is very easy to get around Geneva. The simplest option, with relatively few constraints, is to use public transport. Transports Public Genevois (TPG) operates a dense network of bus routes as well as a tram system recently given a fresh lease on life.
Geneva has four tram lines (12, 14, 15 and 18) serving the entire metropolitan area. CHF 3 for a one-way ticket.
Useful tip: You can purchase a daily card (Carte journalière) for unlimited travel on all TPG lines. This is a very convenient option for discovering the city without worrying about the validity periods for individual tickets. The price is CHF 10 for a “Tout Genève” pass, CHF 18.50 for the outer city.
Buses are certainly the most convenient mode of transport to explore Geneva. There are also a number of Noctambus night buses, running every 20–30 minutes. On Friday and Saturday nights, Noctambus services operate from midnight until 5 a.m. These buses are identified by a letter “N” before the number CHF 3 for a one-way ticket.
There is no shortage of taxis in Geneva. They may be reserved by telephone, hailed in the street or at any of the city's 60 or so public taxi ranks.
Fares:
Renting a car to get around Geneva is a convenient solution, but can be rather expensive. Most parking spaces in the city centre are metered.
Upon your arrival in Geneva, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.
Geneva Tourism & Conventions FoundationOffers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
The official website maintained by Switzerland Tourism, the Swiss national tourist board, provides a wealth of information on Geneva.
The currency used in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF).
AUD 1 = CHF 0,71
CHF 1 = AUD 1,41
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Geneva counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Switzerland.
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
There are no food safety risks in Geneva.
WaterTap water is safe to drink in Geneva.
For information on the travel documents required to enter Switzerland depending on your nationality, visit the website of the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM): www.sem.admin.ch/
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Geneva, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic French phrases that will make your stay in Geneva a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Bonjour (morning)
Good evening: Bonsoir
Goodbye: Au revoir
Yes: Oui
No: Non
No, thank you: Non, merci
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
Please: S'il vous plaît
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Could you repeat ?: Pouvez-vous répéter ?
What time is it ?: Quelle heure est-il ?
Sorry: Pardon
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
Airport: Aéroport
Train station: Gare
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hôtel
Hospital: Hôpital
Bank: Banque
Telephone: Téléphone
I'm (…): Je suis (…)
I'm looking for (…): Je recherche (…)
How much is (…)?: Quel est le prix de (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Avez-vous (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Où puis-je trouver (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: Où puis-je acheter (…) ?
I'd like (…): Je voudrais (…)
Tipping
In Switzerland, as is also the case in France and Italy, when the service is especially friendly and attentive, leaving a tip is recommended and always appreciated. An appropriate tip in this case is anywhere between 5 and 10% of the bill at restaurants or bars.
